Thousands of Russians flock to the Kremlin mausoleum to bid farewell to Lenin's mummy

Thousands of people are lining up these days to enter the mausoleum dedicated to Lenin in Moscow, following recent rumors that the Russian government plans to remove the mummy of the Bolshevik leader, taking advantage of the restoration of the mausoleum, which has just turned 100 years old.

“It is possible that the mausoleum will never open again. You know what authorities we have,” lamented Ígor, a young Muscovite wearing a Lenin badge on his jacket, in statements to the agency EFE.

Although authorities assure that the tomb will reopen its doors in 2027, concern has spread in the local press and on social media, especially in light of the renewed public rehabilitation of Iósif Stalin's image.

Currently, Lenin's mausoleum is only open three hours a day, from Tuesday to Thursday.

Access is limited, and visitors have only a few seconds to view the embalmed leader.

It is prohibited to stop or take photographs.

However, these days thousands of people—many of them young and tourists—are lining up in the hope of getting in.

“It’s surprising that there are so many Russians in line. For us, on the other hand, it’s just a tourist attraction”, said a visitor from New Delhi.

The renovation of the mausoleum has a budget of 20 million rubles -approximately 250,000 dollars- and aims to repair the crumbling walls and the exterior cladding.

However, it will not include the transport of the body, which will remain inside at all times. The only time Lenin was removed from his location was during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), when he was evacuated to Siberia.

Voices for and against

Surveys indicate that only one third of Russians support keeping the mummy in that location.

However, President Vladimir Putin has avoided opening the debate publicly, believing it could "cause a rift in society and humiliate many who were born in the USSR."

On the other hand, some citizens do take a stand.

“I believe that the mummy should be taken out and buried. The body deserves a Christian burial”, stated Natalia from the Tula region in remarks to EFE.

Igor, however, has a different opinion: “Lenin is closer to Christianity than our Church.”

The Russian Orthodox Church, along with liberal sectors, human rights defenders, and ultranationalists, has called for a definitive withdrawal.

They remember that both Lenin's wife, Nadezhda Krúpskaya, and his lover, Inessa Armand, opposed his mummification.

"It's my first time in Moscow."

The mausoleum attracts visitors mainly from all over Russia and from former Soviet republics.

"It's my first time in Moscow. I couldn't have imagined encountering such a long queue. We were educated from childhood in Lenin's ideas," explained Sergey, who traveled from Kazakhstan.

Her sister believes that the mummy is a "scientific experiment" for indefinite conservation.

Some Muscovites also feel that it is an opportunity they cannot afford to miss.

"I suggested to my daughter that we come. Although, honestly, we don't know who is inside the mausoleum, whether it's Lenin or not," opined another Russian.

Between Lenin and Stalin

While Lenin's figure seems to fade from the official imagery, Stalin's resurfaces with strength. Recently, the Moscow metro unveiled a bas-relief over two meters high in honor of the dictator.

What’s the reason? Putin has publicly blamed Lenin for laying the groundwork for the current conflict with Ukraine.

This ideological turn has intensified the debate about the Soviet legacy. For some, like Ígor, Lenin's presence "preserves his memory."

"Many things are starting to be forgotten. They don't even celebrate the day of the socialist revolution anymore," lamented the pro-Soviet young man.

History and curiosities of the mausoleum

The Lenin Mausoleum, which celebrated its centenary on August 1, 2024, houses not only a body but also a history rich in symbolism, power, and conflict.

1. A plan by Stalin

Although the idea of embalming Lenin was officially proposed in 1924, historians agree that it was Stalin who advocated for it starting in 1923.

Trotsky and Bukharin rejected the idea, seeing it as a betrayal of Marxism.

Lenin's widow also opposed it, but Stalin was already on his way to absolute power and used supposed popular letters to justify the decision.

2. From wood to granite

The first mausoleum was built in just three days by the architect Alexei Shchusev. It was made of wood and was small.

In 1930, the current granite version was completed, featuring a monumental structure that aimed to symbolize the grandeur of the Soviet Union.

3. Stalin shared the sarcophagus

After his death in 1953, Stalin's body was placed next to Lenin.

However, after the critiques of personality cult, he was removed in 1961 and buried next to the Kremlin wall.

The inscription "LENIN STALIN" was erased, although sometimes the rain revealed the original letters.

4. Vandalism, attacks, and cult

For decades, the mausoleum was a sacred place for the Soviet regime.

In 1945, captured Nazi flags were thrown to the ground in front of its entrance.

The mausoleum has been attacked several times: with hammers, stones, Molotov cocktails, and even explosives, which led to the installation of bulletproof glass in the 1970s.

5. What remains of Lenin?

Starting in the 1990s, funding for the laboratory that preserves the body was reduced.

Some documentaries claim that only 23% of the original body remains. The rest has been replaced with artificial components.

Today, the mausoleum remains one of the most popular tourist sites in Russia. On Google Maps and TripAdvisor, it maintains a rating of over 4 stars.

Outside of Russia, only in communist regimes of East and Southeast Asia are embalmed bodies of leaders preserved: Mao Zedong (China), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-il (North Korea).

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lenin Mausoleum and Its Current Context